As we mark Mental Health Awareness Month, the PsySSA Division for Registered Counsellors and Psychometrists (RCP Division) reflects on the crucial role Registered Counsellors play in advancing mental health care in South Africa.

In two insightful contributions, the Division highlights both the impact of Registered Counsellors in humanitarian emergencies and the evolution of the profession from its inception to its growing significance today.

“Mental Health in Humanitarian Emergencies” explores how Registered Counsellors provide essential, community-based mental health support in times of crisis — from social unrest to poverty and trauma — ensuring no one faces these challenges alone.

“The Vital Role of Registered Counsellors in South Africa: Past, Present, and Future” traces the development of the profession and its continued commitment to accessible, preventative, and empowering mental health care.

Read more below:

The Vital Role of Registered Counsellors in South Africa: Past, Present, and Future

Division of Registered Counsellors & Psychometrists – Kendall Byne

October is Mental Health Awareness Month, with World Mental Health Day observed on 10 October 2025, reminding us of the ongoing global call to action for accessible, equitable, and humane mental health care. In South Africa, this call has particular resonance, given our history and the unique role of the Registered Counsellor (RC) in broadening access to psychosocial support.

The profession of Registered Counsellor was formally recognised in 2003, following the revision of the Health Professions Act, as a response to South Africa’s urgent need for accessible mental health services. With high rates of trauma, inequality, and limited access to specialised care, RCs were envisioned as frontline providers who could serve communities directly, especially in under-resourced areas where psychologists and psychiatrists remain scarce. This pioneering initiative placed South Africa among the first countries to establish a mid-level mental health profession dedicated to prevention, early intervention, and psychoeducation.

Over the past two decades, Registered Counsellors have become an indispensable part of South Africa’s mental health landscape. We have worked in schools, community-based organisations, NGOs, faith-based settings, and private practice, offering much-needed services that bridge the gap between community needs and specialised care. Our scope of practice emphasises wellness promotion, preventative interventions, and the destigmatisation of mental health, to help ordinary South Africans access support before reaching crisis point.

In 2025, our role is more important than ever. South Africa continues to face rising mental health needs which are exacerbated by socioeconomic challenges, the lingering effects of the pandemic, and an increasing awareness of psychological well-being. Registered Counsellors remain at the forefront of community mental health and empower individuals and families by advocating for resilience and making mental health care accessible in everyday settings.

As we observe World Mental Health Day under this year’s theme of “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies”, the work of RCs embodies this principle. We make certain that mental health services are not a privilege for the few, but a right for all. By addressing barriers of cost, culture, and accessibility, Registered Counsellors contribute to the broader transformation of South Africa’s health system and to PsySSA’s vision of advancing psychology as a force for social good.
This October, let us not only raise awareness but also celebrate the invaluable role of Registered Counsellors in shaping a healthier, more resilient nation – past, present, and into the future.

In South Africa, our communities hold the power to heal. Despite limited mental health resources, our shared strength lies in connection, empathy, and collective care.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, the Division of Registered Counsellors & Psychometrists (RCP) invites us to reflect on how community-led approaches and social support can transform mental health outcomes — especially where access to care is limited. By empowering communities to lead, we nurture resilience, reduce stigma, and create spaces where everyone belongs.

Together, we can turn our communities into places of healing.

Read more below:

“Healing in Community”

Division of Registered Counsellors & Psychometrists – Monique Cooper

Despite poor mental health resources, many South Africans have a strong sense of community. Can we leverage social support and community engagement to improve mental health outcomes in our diverse communities?

October is Mental Health Awareness Month, and one of the main priorities is to increase public education about mental illness in South Africa. Hugo et al. (2003) suggest that an improved understanding of mental disorders could decrease stigma and encourage the use of effective interventions. Increased knowledge can also lead to an improvement in community and social support for those suffering from mental illness. There is a good deal of evidence linking social connection to positive mental health outcomes, both in maintaining favourable mental health and assisting in recovery from moderate and severe mental health problems. On the other hand, loneliness is associated with poorer mental health (Holt-Lunstad, 2024). A sense of community is associated with reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress (Park et al., 2023). Our communities can be a valuable source of support, and can help to leverage local knowledge, social networks and resources in areas where there is not adequate  access to mental health care. Mobilising local resources and existing social structures can help to meet mental health care needs where formal resources are scarce. (Chutiyami et al., 2025).

Studies show that programmes with high levels of community engagement demonstrated significant improvement in clinical mental health symptoms and recovery indicators such as improved social inclusion. While community-led programmes delivered the most culturally relevant and sustained impacts. (Chutiyami et al., 2025) A focus on engaging community members as active participants and collaborating with them on design, implementation and leadership of community projects can go a long way in  ensuring cultural acceptability and programme sustainability. (Chutiyami et al., 2025). A collaborative, community-led approach could help to increase the reach of mental health care services in underserved areas and encourage social cohesion and community resilience. Together we can work towards turning our communities into places of healing.

References:

Chutiyami, M., Cutler, N., Sangon, S., Thaweekoon, T., Nintachan, P., Napa, W., Kraithaworn, P., & River, J. (2025). Community-Engaged Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiatives in Under-Resourced Settings: A Scoping Review of Primary Studies. Journal of primary care & community health, 16, 21501319251332723. https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319251332723

Holt-Lunstad J. (2024). Social connection as a critical factor for mental and physical health: evidence, trends, challenges, and future implications. World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 23(3), 312–332. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21224

Hugo, C.J., Boshoff, D.E.L., Traut, A. et al. Community attitudes toward and knowledge of mental illness in South Africa. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 38, 715–719 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-003-0695-3

Park, E. Y., Oliver, T. R., Peppard, P. E., & Malecki, K. C. (2023). Sense of community and mental health: a cross-sectional analysis from a household survey in Wisconsin. Family medicine and community health, 11(2), e001971. https://doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2022-

As we mark Mental Health Awareness Month and World Mental Health Day (10 October), we are reminded that mental health is not a privilege — it’s a right. This year’s theme, “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies,” highlights the urgent need for inclusive, accessible care, even in times of crisis.

In her article, Ntombikanina Mboniswa explores how crises — from floods and pandemics to conflict and displacement — magnify mental health challenges, and why building resilient systems that prioritise psychological support is essential.

Read the article below:

“Shaping a Healthier Future Through Mental Health Awareness”

Division of Registered Counsellors & Psychometrists (Written by: Ntombikanina Mboniswa)

Every year, World Mental Health Day (10 October) and Mental Health Awareness Month serve as vital reminders that mental health is as essential as physical health. These observances raise public awareness, fight stigma, promote early intervention, and  mobilise collective action.

Significance & Why It Matters:
Mental health conditions affect people across all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life. Without awareness, many suffer in silence. Observance days and months help bring conversations into the open, highlight structural gaps, and push for policy change and
resource allocation.

This Year’s Theme: Access to Services in Crises
For 2025, the World Federation for Mental Health has selected the theme “Access to services – mental health in catastrophes and emergencies.” This theme underscores that in moments of crisis — whether natural disasters, pandemics, conflict, displacement, or economic collapse — mental health often suffers dramatically, yet access to care is often cut or neglected. The message is that mental health support must be resilient and included in emergency response planning. In many communities, emergencies compound risk factors like trauma, loss, displacement, and isolation. Highlighting access means advocating for robust systems that remain functional when they’re needed most.

How the Public Can Engage:
Here are practical ways people can get involved:

• Share awareness materials: Use toolkits, posters, social media graphics, and hashtags (e.g. from World Mental Health Day) to spark conversation.
• Host or attend events: “Talk cafés,” listening circles, webinars, and panel discussions on mental health in emergency settings can create meaningful community engagement.
• Get trained: Enrol in Mental Health First Aid or similar training so you can support someone in distress.
• Advocacy: Engage with local or national government to push for policies that embed mental health into disaster-response frameworks.
• Support organisations: Volunteer or donate to mental health NGOs, especially those active in crisis zones or frontline settings.

Useful Resources & Practical Tools:

• The World Mental Health Day campaign toolkit (posters, messaging guides) is made publicly available.
• SADAG’s Mental Health Awareness Month toolkit provides social media content and engagement ideas.
• Many mental health organisations also host online screening tools, helplines, and peer support networks.

Division-Specific Insights / Contributions:

If you represent a department, branch, or division (e.g. a school, company, public health unit, NGO), consider these tailored ideas:

• Internal awareness campaign: Use newsletters, posters and internal webinars to promote mental wellbeing and destigmatize seeking help.
• Emergency planning: Ensure your division’s disaster response protocols include mental health support (e.g. crisis counselling, referral pathways).
• Partnerships: Collaborate with local mental health services, Registered Counsellors, or NGOs to provide workshops or outreach services.
• Monitoring & feedback: Use surveys or suggestion boxes to gauge mental health needs in your constituency or staff, to drive responsive programming.